Solderless connector for attachment to electrical conductors



P. A. PONTIUS SOLDERLESS CONNECTOR FOR ATTACHMENT TO ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed May 27, 1943 INVENTOR A. P0221105. I

WITNESSES:

Patented Apr. 20, 1948 SOLDERLESS CONNE Peter A. Pontius,

Westinghouse burgh, 2a.,

C'iOR FOR ATTACH- MENT T ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS East Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Electric Corporation, East Pittsa corporation of Pennsylvania- Application May 27, 1943, Serial No. 488,635

Claims. (Cl. 173-269) My invention relates, generally, to connectors and, more particularly, to solderless connectors of the type described in Patent No. 2,275,163 which are suitable for removably attaching electric wires to binding posts and the like.

An object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide an improved connector of the solderless or pressure type whichshall be simple and efllclent in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed,

A more specific object of my invention is to provide an improved connector of the type described in the aforesaid patent No. 2,275,163.

Another object of my invention is to decrease the distancefrom the center of the connecting stud to the insulation of the cable or wire, as compared with prior connectors.

A further object of my invention is to provide for gripping the insulation of the wire by means formed integrally with the connector.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a connector with which the wire may be placed either at an angle to or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector.

A still further object of my invention is to provide for mechanically strengthening a connector of the solderless type. i

Other objects of my invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with my invention, the overall length of a connector when installed is reduced by disposing the contact tongue at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the connector. The connector may be provided with an extension or finger which engages the wire or a tubular sleeve on the tongue to reinforce the tongue and another finger for gripping the insulation of the I wire.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in plan, bodying my invention;

Fig, 2 is a. view, in plan, of a modified form of the connector;

Fig. 3 is a view, in tion of the connector;

Figs. 1a, 2a and 3a are views, 1, 2 and 3, respectively, to the connector;

Fig. 4 is a view, IV-IV of Fig. 1a;

of a connector emplan, of another modificasimilar to Figs. showing a wire secured in section, taken along the line Fig. 5 is a view, in section, taken along the line V-V of Fig. 2a; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, in plan, of a tubular sleeve for the contact tongue of the connector.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. 1, the connector Ill shown therein comprises an eyelet portion II, a contact tongue l2 and a pair of fingers l3 and 14 formed integrally with the eyelet portion II, The connector may be punched from sheet material, preferably soft copper, and, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the

contact tongue I! is of a trough shape.

With a view to decreasing the overall length of the connector and-thereby decreasing the distance from the center of the stud, to which the eyelet ll may be attached, to the end of the insulation on the wire, the contact tongue I2 is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the connector. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1a, the distance from the center of an opening IS in the eyelet II to the insulation on a wire [6, which is secured to the connector, is relatively short,

as compared with the corresponding distance in previously known connectors of the present type. Furthermore, the wire l6 may be brought into the connector at an angle, which is an advantage when the connector is utilized for connecting the wire to a terminal block of the type utilized in the construction of switchboard panels and control desks. v

In order to reinforce the contact tongue l2, a finger I3 is formed integrally with the eyelet portion ll. As shown in Figs. 1 and 1a, the finger I3 is disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the tongue I! and the wire it and may be'wrapped around the wire, thereby mechanically strengthening the connector and preventing breakage of the tongue from the eyelet portion I i.

With a view to further strengthening the connector and also preventing the insulation on the wire from becoming frayed after it is secured to the connector, an additional finger I4 is also integrally formed with the eyelet member ll. As shown in Fig. 1, the finger I4 is slightly longer than the finger l3 and is parallel to the finger I3, The finger It may be wrapped around the wire to grip the insulation in the manner shown in Fla. 1a.

A tubular or cylindrical sleeve l1, illustrated in Fig. 6, is disposed on the trough-shaped tongue l2. The sleeve I! is preferably made from a relatively hard metal, such as hard drawn copper or bronze. In order to increase the contact area between the tongue I2, the wire l6 and the sleeve l1 without increasing the overall dimensions of I I the connector, one end of the sleeve ll may be cut on a bias, thereby making opposite sides of the sleeve substantially the same len h as corresponding sides the tongue [2.

In order to secure the wire IE to the connector, the insulation is first removed from the end of the wire. The wire is then inserted into the sleeve 11 on the tongue I: with the shoulder of the insulation abutting the finger It. The sleeve I1 is then crimped by means of a suitable tool to form a depression I! in the sleeve II. In this manner, the wire it and the sleeve I! are securely held on the tongue l2.

The finger is may then be wrapped around the wire l6, thereby reinforcing the tongue l2 as wel1 as increasing the electrical contact area of the connector. The finger Il may then be wrapped around the insulation on the wire, thereby gripping the insulation to prevent it from becoming frayed.

- In the modification oi the invention illustrated in Figs. 2, 2a and the finger I4 is provided with an extension IQ for engaging the insulation on the wire it. The extension 19 may be disposed at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the connector. In this manner, the wire is may be brought into the connector parallel to and sub--v stantially on the longitudinal axis of the connector, as shown in Fig. 2a.

Also, the length of the sleeve I! may be increased sufiiciently for the finger I; to be wrapped around the sleeve instead of directly around the wire. Thus, the wrapping of the finger l3 around the sleeve the connector is manufactured and prior to the installation of the wire.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 3a, the tongue 12 is disposed at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the connector. As shown in Fig. 3a, the wire it may be brought into the connector at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the connector. The connector shown in Figs. 3 and 3a is commonly known as a flag type and may be utilized where it is desired to have the bolt or stud hole 15 alongside oi the wire it. As shown, the length of the tongue l2 and the sleeve I1 is increased and the finger I3 is omitted. The finger l4 functions to prevent breakage of the tongue and to grip the insulation on the wire.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have provided an improved connector which may be utilized for attaching a wire to a terminal stud or bolt and which may be readily manufactured and easily secured to the wire. The present connector is particularly suitable for use where the space available for making a wiring connection is limited. 7

I do not'desire to be restricted to the particu lar forms or arrangements of parts-herein shown and described, since it is evident that they may be changed and modified. without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical connector comprising, an eyelet portion, a contact tongue formed integrally with the eyelet portion, a sleeve disposed on the contact tongue, the longitudinal axis of said contact tongue being disposed at an angle to the longiil may be done when integrally with the eyelet portion,

tudinal axis of the connector, and a finger formed the longitudinal axis of said finger being disposed substantially at a right angle to said contact tongue.

2. An electrical connector comprising, an eyelet portion, a contact tongue formed integrally with the eyelet portion, a sleeve disposed on the contact tongue, the longitudinal axis of said contact tongue being disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the connector, 9. finger formed integrally with the eyelet portion, the longitudinal axis of said finger being disposed substantially at a right angle to said contact tongue, and an additional finger formed integrally with the eyelet portion.

3. An electrical connector comprising, an eyelet portion, a contact tongue formed integrally with the eyelet portion, a sleeve disposed on the contact tongue, the longitudinal axis of said contact tongue being disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis'of the connector, a finger formed integrally with the eyelet portion, the longitudinal axis of said finger being disposed substantially at a right angle to said contact tongue, and an additional finger formed integrally with the eyelet portion, said additional finger being disposed substantially parallel to the first-named finger.

4. An electrical connector comprising, an eyelet portion, a contact tongue formed integrally with the eyelet portion, a sleeve disposed on the contact tongue, the longitudinal axis of said contact tongue being disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the connector, a finger formed integrally with the eyelet portion, the longitudinal axis of said finger being disposed substantially at a right angle to said contact tongue, and an additional finger formed integrally with the eyelet portion, said additional finger having a portion disposed substantially parallel to the firstenamed finger and an extension disposed substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the connector.

5. An electrical connector comprising, an eyelet portion, a contact tongue formed integrally with the eyelet portion, a sleeve disposed on the contact tongue, the longitudinal axis of said contact tongue being disposed at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the connector, and a finger formed integrally with the eyelet portion, said finger being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector.

. PETER A. PONTIUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 731,400 Worthington June 16, 1903 1,067,702 Wiegand July 15, 1913 2,239,878 Clayton Apr. 29, 1941 2,279,915 Cram Apr. 14, 1942 2,374,413 Carlson Apr. 24, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 616,672 France Dec. 9, 1920 

